Idaho Matters

(Boise State University) On Monday , we talked to Nicole Foy with the Idaho Statesman about  emails she uncovered  from Idaho republicans that could mean that the legislature might try to ban DACA students from getting Idaho Opportunity Scholarships. What exactly are these scholarships, are “Dreamers” getting them now and why have they been controversial with lawmakers in the past? Have a question...

The Boise River Is Just Below Flood Stage (Samantha Wright / Boise State Public Radio) Time for the  Boise River Boogie . No, it’s not a dance, it’s a duathlon. And it’s a fundraiser to help keep the river in good shape. Not that long ago, slaughterhouses in Garden City made the river run red. Raw sewage was dumped directly in the river. And the habitat suffered. Over time, valley residents began...

(M. W. Miller, Colorado Division of Wildlife / AP Photos) Five cases  of chronic wasting disease were confirmed this spring in Montana, close to the Idaho panhandle. While not affecting humans, the disease means a horrible death for deer and elk. It’s similar to mad cow disease and there is no cure. What is it and how is Idaho Fish and Game trying to  keep it out of the Gem State? Have a question...

What happens when you take a Victorian sofa on a road trip to find out how mothers impact the lives of their daughters? You get the movie  “The Sofa Diaries,” showing next month at the  Flicks in Boise . Filmmaker Sonya Rosario and her mother sat on that couch to talk and it inspired her to take the sofa to other mothers and daughters. She joins us on  Idaho Matters . Have a question or comment fo...

(Sun Valley Film Festival) When most people think of the  Sun Valley Film Festival , they probably think of top drawer movies and film stars visiting Idaho in the winter. But this year, the festival is extending its reach to other parts of the calendar. Joining us is  SVFF  executive director Teddy Grennan and Laura Mehlhaff who has recently transitioned to head the Sun Valley Film Initiative. Hav...

(Luke Martin) One day a cartoonist, his wife and their kids decided to move from Chicago to ... anywhere else. After a year and a half, they chose to relocate in Boise. Last August, that cartoonist,  Luke Martin , came on  Idaho Matters  to talk about how he had turned his Idaho experiences into a comic strip called  “I’m New Here.”  Now he has a new children’s book to show his appreciation for hi...

Statue on Boise State campus (Adam Cotterell / Boise State Public Radio) Can  DACA  students receive an Idaho Opportunity Scholarship? That idea is  sparking debate  among some lawmakers and the Idaho Freedom Foundation. Is it possible, is it  legal  and will legislators ban Dreamers from the scholarships?  Idaho Matters  takes a look. Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  usin...

(yaquina / Flickr Creative Commons) How do you inspire a younger generation to vote?  One project  wants to get more 18- to 25-year-olds to register and vote in upcoming elections. One way to reach potential young voters is to register students to vote in high school and college. Two "What The Vote!" organizers join Idaho Matters. Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  using #Id...

(idaho shakespeare festival) This summer, the  Idaho Shakespeare Festival  is presenting Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, with a twist. Portraying history’s most famous emperor is veteran actress Carole Healey. Joining Carole on  Idaho Matters  is Sara Bruner, who audiences will know from her countless performances with the  festival , but this season is the director of Julius Caesar and Taming of the...

(Tess Goodwin, Boise State Public Radio) When Robin Fehlau was planning her move to Boise eight years ago, something peculiar kept throwing off her housing search: homes in Boise County kept on showing up, all of which were miles and miles away from her office. She soon realized it was because Boise is not actually in Boise County, confusing both search engines and Robin herself. This left her cur...

(AegirPhotography / Flickr) It’s time for our Reporter Roundtable, where we get you up to date on all the news that made headlines around our region. Joining Gemma Gaudette this week are  Betsy Russell  with the Idaho Press, Mike Sharp from  KIVI Six On Your Side Television  and Don Day with  Boisedev. Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  using #IdahoMatters. 

(ESAHubble & NASA, I. Karachentsev galaxy cluster / NASA) Galaxy Clusters  happen when gravity pulls galaxies together into groups. They are helping scientists get a look at some of the oldest places in the universe. Idaho Matters talks to  one astrophysicist  about how these clusters are formed and why they are important to Earthlings. Find out more here . Have a question or comment for the s...

(Laramie Lavala / Boise State Public Radio) The Sun Valley PBR Classic will bring professional  bull riders  to Hailey on August 3. This is one of only two PBR events in the  Gem State  this year. Gemma Gaudette talks to a former world champion rider about the event. Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  using #IdahoMatters.

(Tom Kelly/Flickr) Earlier this year , Republican lawmakers tried – and failed – to change Idaho’s Constitution to give their party the upper hand when it comes to the  redistricting process . That amendment seems likely to come back next year. The GOP is also embracing a plan that would simply add more lawmakers to the state legislature. Gemma Gaudette goes in-depth with Boise State Public Radio’...

(Valley Regional Transit) In January, the Valley Regional Transit Late Night Program  started up in Boise . It lets qualified riders get a low-cost Lyft ride to to work and training after the buses  stop running . VRT calls the program "incredibly beneficial," so much so that it's expanding the program into Nampa.  Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  using #IdahoMatters. 

(Adam Cotterell / Boise State Public Radio) The  Idaho Office of School Safety  was created by the Idaho Legislature in 2016. Its mission is to help public schools create safer learning environments.  The office  assesses each school campus for threats and vulnerabilities and offers mitigation strategies.  Idaho Matters  finds out about a new video that deals with school safety issues. Have a ques...

(D. Pineo / The Peregrine Fund) From the 1950s to the mid-1990s, no wild Aplomado Falcons were born in the U.S. Last month, with a lot of help from the Boise-based  Peregrine Fund , the 500th Aplomado Falcon nestling was banded in southern Texas. How did baby falcons born in  Boise  in the 1980s and 1990s help bring the population back from the brink? Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet...

(Katherine Jones/ Idaho Statesman ) Boise was a relatively early adopter of e-scooters across the country. Bird and Lime scooters hit the streets last fall, later joined by the company Spin . Many people have embraced the devices, but as use has increased — so have complaints. In an effort to curb those issues, the City of Boise passed three ordinances last week around the scooters, including one...

(Roger Phillips / Idaho Fish and Game) Every year at this time , biologists at Idaho Fish and Game watch closely for Snake River sockeye salmon to return to Idaho. This year, Fish and Game expects fewer fish to return to Redfish Lake. That’s due in part to the tough year the young fish had in 2017, trying to get out of Idaho to the Pacific Ocean . Now two years later, they still have to swim back...

(Idaho Department of Lands/screenshot) The Idaho Department of Lands is dealing with a big problem caused by a small creature. The tussock moth has infested Douglas-fir in the Packer John State Forest. The outbreak means the trees are more susceptible to wildfires. Now, IDL is planning to cut down some of the infested trees in an effort to contain the problem. Have a question or comment for the sh...

(Frankie Barnhill / Boise State Public Radio) A new documentary looks at  One Stone, a student-led high school  in Boise. The progressive school was founded in 2008 and is pushing the boundaries of student-empowered learning. The film was created by Jon Long, who has produced and directed films for PBS and National Geographic.  Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  using #Idaho...

(Pei-Lin Yu / Boise State University) Boise State University anthropology professor Pei-Lin Yu is studying something you don't always hear about in discussions about climate change: the impact on cultural sites and artifacts in National Parks. She talks with guest host George Prentice about working with park rangers to identify vulnerable places in America's treasured parks.  Have a question or co...

(Ted S. Warren / AP Images) In Idaho, we all experience wildfire smoke during the summer. But what is the cumulative effect of this smoke on our health, and how do we know when to take action? Is it getting worse in an era of climate change? We talk with Austin Walkins from the Idaho Conservation League. The advocacy organization has a new checklist for folks to understand their risks and make a p...

(Scott Burkhardt / via Kickstarter) The 1 Potato screenwriter award is given every year at the Sun Valley Film Festival . This year's winner is screenwriter Scott Burkhardt, who wrote "Girls Are Strong Here." It's the story of a Syrian refugee whose faith is tested when an American teen and her mother are stranded at his car repair shop overnight. Guest host George Prentice speaks with Burkhardt,...

(Boise Goathead Fest) Have your bike tires ever fallen victim to the pesky goathead weed? If so, you’re not alone and the Boise bicycle community is coming together to do something about it. Join our guest host George Prentice and Jimmy Halliburton as they talk all-things Goathead Fest . Have a question or comment for the show? Tweet  @KBSX915  using #IdahoMatters.